Documents

Where documents include maps, the use of this data is subject to terms and conditions (https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/termsandconditions).

The legal document available for download below constitutes the formal designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The additional details provided on this page are provided for information purposes only and do not form part of the designation. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within this additional information.

• Type

  Legal Documents

  Title

  SM5125_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011029)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of a stone circle set upon a partly artificial platform on the S slopes of Ben Langass. The "circle" is, in fact, oval in plan, 37m E-W by 30m N-S. It consists of 24 upright stone slabs and boulders, together with a similar number of recumbent stones. On the SE side, two stones are set quite clearly out of alignment with the rest of the ring, but very close to its projected course. The platform on which the circle stands is formed of a scoop into the slope, with a back-scarp 1.5m high at maximum on the N and a dumped platform up to 2m high on the S.

The platform is only just large enough for the stone circle, and the upright stones of the S part of the circle stand on the edge of the platform. A rubble wall has been built between the uprights on the N side, but this appears later than the circle, whereas the platform very clearly antedates the erection of the stones. The monument commands a wide open prospect from SE through S and W to NW. The area to be scheduled is a quadrilateral of about 3 hectares, bounded on the S by the shore of Loch Langass.

The W, N and E sides are 150m, 150m and 220m long, while the S, shore, side is approximately 250m long, as shown in red on the accompanying map. This area is drawn wide to ensure that the open aspect of the monument, which would have been essential to its purpose, is safeguarded.

Statement of National Importance

This monument is of national importance as a very fine field monument in its own right. The existence of a carefully prepared site and the extensive peat cover of surrounding slopes support the assumption that excavation could yield much valuable information regarding land-use and economy before, during and after the date of construction, while the existence on the other side of the same hill of the best-preserved chambered cairn in the Western Isles suggests that this area may have been an important focus of Neolithic ritual activity. The monument is thus of national importance in its own right and as part of a concentration of major ritual monuments.

References

Bibliography

About Scheduled Monuments

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Scheduling is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for monuments and archaeological sites of national importance as set out in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

We schedule sites and monuments that are found to be of national importance using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Scheduled monument records provide an indication of the national importance of the scheduled monument which has been identified by the description and map. The description and map (see ‘legal documents’ above) showing the scheduled area is the designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The statement of national importance and additional information provided are supplementary and provided for general information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within the statement of national importance or additional information. These records are not definitive historical or archaeological accounts or a complete description of the monument(s).

The format of scheduled monument records has changed over time. Earlier records will usually be brief. Some information will not have been recorded and the map will not be to current standards. Even if what is described and what is mapped has changed, the monument is still scheduled.

Scheduled monument consent is required to carry out certain work, including repairs, to scheduled monuments. Applications for scheduled monument consent are made to us. We are happy to discuss your proposals with you before you apply and we do not charge for advice or consent. More information about consent and how to apply for it can be found on our website at www.historicenvironment.scot.

Find out more about scheduling and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.